Christmas Eve Boxes

I don’t do Christmas Eve boxes but do an advent box. So this is given on 1 st December. A Christmas decoration usually hand made although it has varied hugely depending on what we’ve been doing. So one year a very posh decoration from F&M another year from the National Trust etc. One year they had a Christmas decoration from the Caribbean. Then I put in advent calendars plus home made Christmas biscuits. DH usually carves something, and I paint a gift card. This year it is simple. Just a twig of holly and berries. Nothing until Christmas Day then. But in this years case Boxing Day on our walk?and champagne picnic, the beach has been mentioned. Just got to hope for dry weather!

I suppose all Christmas traditions were once a new fad.
Cards, Christmas trees, manufactured baubles and decorations to name a few. Even the Queens speech.
Take them for your own or not.

I like the idea

It's harmless and not mandatory

I've been buying my children and now grandchildren Christmas pyjamas which they get on Christmas Eve, for years now

I love them, my grandson has always has one.

If you can afford to spoil grandchildren or children why not?

I always bought a Christmas eve present for my 3, they all were given a relaxing scented bath bomb in the hope it would help them sleep. My DD does a Christmas eve box, it's mainly treats, a dvd, and the night before Christmas. They don't buy anything special apart from the treats.

I don’t like the idea of Christmas Eve boxes but for at least 30 years I have done a Christmas Eve tea with a table centrepiece with a little present for everyone (costing less than £5) and keep on with the tradition.

When my boys were little they were allowed to open one present from under the tree, on Christmas Eve, but it had to be chosen by me. It was always Christmas PJs, which became a Christmas family tradition. The PJs were usually handmade by my mum, so doubly special.

I still have photos of two excited little boys, all shiny and fresh after their bath, wearing Nana's Jamas.

Never heard of them, my mother was German, so we had a double Christmas opening the German presents on Christmas eve like they do there and opening the English ones on Christmas day!

Never heard of Christmas boxes!

I always loved our half German, half English Christmas. Presents on Xmas eve is the German tradition, so we had half on Xmas eve, and the other half on Xmas day - but not till the afternoon! It really takes the pressure of Xmas day; you can enjoy opening presents together, and play with the children. Always a simple meal on Xmas eve.

No stockings either, as my children got a Nikolaus Boot on St Nicholas day (6th December).

These started a couple of years ago, and I could only think it was another way of making people buy even more gifts.

Christmas Day is the day for presents.

Children do grow out of their pyjamas, so I can see the point for them.
The whole family wearing matching Christmas pyjamas is what I can’t get my head around, but each to their own - if it gives them pleasure and they can afford it.

One person’s pleasure is nearly always going to be someone else’s ridiculous waste of money.

Not even going there....

Doesnt everyone end up with rather a lot of PJs if they have new ones every Christmas Eve? They dont seem to wear out!!

MissAdventure

My neighbours mum always painted the children's wooden bed frames every christmas eve!

Gosh! That's a new one!
As if mother's don't have enough to do pre Christmas!
The more I think about it, the madder it seems. So many questions!

MissA the worst thing that Elf ever did was to sneak into the box of treats that only good boys and girls can have and he ate the lot!

Seems the general consensus is that whatever our Christmas traditions - that's fine. but we need to keep to or create traditions of our own, to carry on through families, see things evolve and see the pleasure we all get from that feeling. Do we need to buy into commercialism and pressure to do the next thing or craze imported from other countries via the internet?

Whatever next in the run up to Christmas - Thanksgiving? It's our own family traditions which give us that nice seasonal glow, and something to look forward to, something which links the years and the family. Ready-made expensive stuff to buy in boxes - because "everyone" is doing that - is hardly the same thing. My favourite Christmas Eves were when we lived in a small village, the midnight Carol service, the little church filled with huge candles, the choir singing, the walk home under the stars, the race for the children to get into bed "so that Christmas Day comes quicker". Christmas for old or young can always be magical - if we're determined to make it and keep it our own and don't feel that we need to conform to anyone else's new fads or ideas.

I'd enjoy that.
I had been thinking I would probably have had an elf for my girl, just to try and make her behave.
I'd love thinking up adventures for him.

As for Elf on the Shelf..... I'll own up that I have one here for the GC and I thoroughly enjoy thinking up mischievous and naughty things for him to have done whilst we've been out. Before I go on the school run, I might get a bag of flour out of the cupboard and have Elf standing head first in it, with a scattering of flour on the work top. Or he's been in the bathroom and unravelled the loo roll down the stairs. Or he's swinging from the light fitting in the living room. The GC really look forward to seeing what he's been up to and happily help to tidy up. It's just a bit of fun and harms no one. ---it also brings out my dark side!-

My neighbours mum always painted the children's wooden bed frames every christmas eve!

We always had new warm pyjamas on Christmas Eve and kept them on for the present opening next morning. My parents started this tradition, I followed it with my children and still do even though my "children" are grown ups and my DGC are tween or teenagers. 7 pairs already bought this year ready to be delivered to their homes in advance, usually with some home made mince pies. No fancy boxes - I will use the red pillowcases (2 for £2 in ASDA) which have been reused for 5 or 6 years now. Absolutely nothing to do with commercialism.

Ever had Christmas Eve boxes , but our daughter always had a Christmas book under her pillow on Christmas Eve

@Joesoap, often the items are things that come out every year, like Christmas books or DVDs - kept for Christmas Eve to keep them special - or e.g. the wherewithal for hot chocolate. Not presents as such.

Although I posted earlier, I so agree with you Nannan2 - was starting to think I should dump Christmas Eve Box and give grandchild a bag of monkey nuts and a tangerine in a sock on Christmas morning. Love traditions and memories which hopefully will carry on down the generations - even new ones ! ?

Cant see the point in Christmas Eve boxes it seems to defeat the purpose,and how does Father Christmas come if the presents are already given, surely children dont need presents two days on the run.
I heard the other day a teenager had been to a Boy friend break up party what is the world coming to?

I think this tradition of Christmas Eve boxes will be done and bought by parents and grandparents with plenty of money. Think of all those families who will be on their own and with no spare money for Christmas Day presents let alone Christmas Eve presents.